help to si

[Lucieb01]

I have done my 2nd si I am losing some b12 as cant draw up correct the needle I use is 29g all in one with syrnge so could anyone plz help get it rite I draw upwith the same needle I inject with do I need to change I am not doing a very good job at the moment help plz

[Foggyme Administrator]

Hi Lucieb01.

Can you say a bit more about what the problem is?

What do you mean when you say that you're 'losing some'? Do you mean leaving some in to bottom of the vial? Or losing some through the needle when you try to get any air out before injecting?

Or are you perhaps using a multi-dose bottle and not sure that you're getting the right dose?

Whatever the problem, don't worry...it's a bit tricky to get right at first but very easy once you've had a bit of practice. And it's exceedingly difficult to do yourself any harm.

Incoming awaited 😄

[Gambit62 Administrator]

if you are using 1ml phials that you snap the neck off then they are designed so you can actually invert them to draw the liquid out - I usually find that tipping them is enough.

The shape of the phial means that surface tension at the neck stops the liquid from dropping out.

[JMN2017]

Hi

As Gambit62 and Foggyme have asked, what kind of 'container' is your B12 in? That will help with how to answer you.

If it's a phial, as Gambit62 suggests, you can hold the phial/ampule upside-down without the liquid falling out so, to get the last few drops, hold the ampule at around 45 degrees (open end downwards) to draw up the remaining bits.

If you're drawing up from a multidose bottle, then you can turn the bottle upside-down to draw up your dose and you can also exclude any air while needle still in bottle, therefore wasting little/none of the medication.

As you are using the same needle to inject with, be careful not to touch the sides/bottom of the ampule/bottke as you can so easily blunt the needle, especially a 29 gauge needle (quite fine and tip easily damaged).

If your problem is because you feel cack-handed, then practice with a used ampule which you have put a ml of water in, using an old syringe and needle.

I'm assuming you are OK with the injection itself. If not, practice on an orange That's what we were advised during nurse training

[Lucieb01 in reply to JMN2017]

hi yes iam using one needle is this ok would you suggest another size of needle thx

[JMN2017 in reply to Lucieb01]

Re injections, I've never self injected, only injected others!!!

Personally, if I were using a fine bore needle to inject I would ...

1) use a larger bore to draw up the meds and

2) give the injection very slowly - gauged by the pressure felt when pushing the plunger - more painful if given quickly/under pressure.

If / Once drawing up technique is optimal, then I would probably only use the one (fine bore) needle (if I was buying them) In the hospital situation, if drawing up from an ampule, I'd use only one needle but if from a vial (ie through rubber membrane) I would tend to change needles once drawn up.

I tend to feel that giving IM injections can be more painful using a fine bore needle because you are then trying to 'shoot' out the fluid under more pressure than if using a larger bore needle. This seemed evident when seeing the reaction in patients. Nurses who wanted to be 'kind' would use finer-bore needles but the injecting of the fluid appeared to be more painful, and more prolonged. That's only my personal opinion but many would ask if I could do their injections, rather than some of the others! Oh, and also, I would 'flick' the needle in, through slightly taut skin - like throwing a dart Much less painful, then gave injection reasonably slowy depending on the pressure needed.

Hope that helps?

[Ree2705 in reply to JMN2017]

I wonder if you would mind me butting in with my own question relating to this issue JMN2017??

I am using glass ampoules - all the reading I've done says you should use a filter needle to draw up from the ampoules - I am not sure if I should do this or not if I am self injectioning subcutaneously - just wondered what your thoughts were as an experienced person.

Thank you

Mx

[JMN2017 in reply to Ree2705]

I'm retired now, @Ree2705 so I have to admit to never using filter needles. I've obviously been out of the game for too long now (took early retirement coz ill health )

so unable to help you.

Others on here will have better knowledge re the need of filter needles, I'm sure. Best you start another thread as this is a bit 'buried' in here

[Ree2705 in reply to JMN2017]

Thank you JMN 2017 - I have another thread I'm just sooo impatient 😂

Thank you for your response though and it's sad to hear you took early retirement, but I hope you are healthy enough to enjoy it...

Mx

[Lucieb01]

I use a 1ml ampoule

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I'm having this problem too, did you find a solution

[pvanderaa]

I use the 25 mm 30 gauge diameter needle both to take up the B12 and to inject IM (intermuscular). I have no issue.

The 12 mm needles used for diabetes are for subcutaneous injection.

Is your B12 in ampoules or a vial with a rubber stopper?

Mine is the rubber stopper and I inject the needle through the rubber, turn the whole thing upside down as the B12 can't pour out from the vial with the rubber stopper in place, and watch where the tip of the needle is to take up the B12.

The first time I swapped out the needle so it wasn't a slightly blunted one but now I use the same needle.

One trick I use is to press and hold for the count of 10 a penny on the spot on the skin where you want to inject . It leaves a nice ring for a bullseye to clean with alcohol swab and to inject inside of.